Personally, I think it's between Spain and Brazil, with England and Argentina outside favourites. Germany and Holland don't have enough quality for me to win it, despite having some outstanding players between them (Snejider, Van Persie, Gomez, Lahm)

The reason I think Argentina are outside favourites is because of Maradona, his record as coach is pretty poor to be quite honest, and leaving out Cambiasso (best holding midfielder in the world) is absolute madness - Maradona is a loose cannon, and despite having a forward pool of Aguero, Milito, Messi, Tevez - I think having such an inexperienced and temperamental manager will cost them dearly.

I think England will make the semi-finals, possibly the finals if the key players are firing on all cylinders. I feel that England are slightly reliant on Rooney for goals, where as teams such as Spain, Argentina, Brazil have 5 or 6 players who can be matchwinners at this elite level.

As for top goalscorer, I'll be boring and say Villa ; Spain have some easy opponents in their group and I can see Villa raping a fair few defences.

My outside shout would be Diego Milito, if he is played (Maradona seems to prefer Messi and Tevez upfront, who could blame him?) or perhaps Luis Fabiano of Brazil (despite some tough teams in their preliminary group)

Rooney is in with a shout too - I can see England horsing Algeria and Slovenia.

At 33/1, Drogba might not be a bad little flutter for top scorer. Just think of him against those North Koreans! He does have to play Brazil and Portugal though, but there won't be much defence going on in that group.

Villa would have to be favourite though looking at Spain's group.

Agree it looks to be between Spain and Brazil. Although I would never count out Italy. They won it last time with a fairly poor side and they have a pretty comfortable draw up to the quarter finals this time around.

Can't see a semi final for us to be honest. Outside of Rooney the quality just isn't there. Expecting the usual quarter final loss on penalties. We've got a pretty kind draw up to that point (as long both us and Germany finish in the same positions in our respective groups so we don't get them in the 2nd round) but once there you just know a key player will get injured and someone will get sent off etc and everything will play out as per the norm. We're not strong enough in goal and I think the first good side we come up agains will kill us down our right side with Johnson and Walcott/Lennon.

I think it will all be quite predictable to be honest. There will be a couple of upsets in the 1st round - the hosts might defy the odds and beat Mexico in the opening game or France, or NZ or North Korea might shock the world and pick up a point. Netherlands will as usual excite everyone until the quarter finals when they comprehensively beaten by a big side (likely Brazil this time). A surprise team or 2 will make an unexpected run to the quarter finals (looking at the draw I'm picking it could be Nigeria/South Korea/Greece this time - ie, the runner up of group B).

But once we get down to the semi and final, it will be the usual teams, and perhaps Spain as they have a pretty good draw up to the semi final.

It's just funny how they had to resort to that against a team like Ireland. How the **** any of them are willing to play in the same team as him after this is beyond me. If a Reading player did the same I'd be ******* embarassed.